In the second innings of the World Test Championship final against Australia at The Oval in London, Indian captain Rohit Sharma was batting as well as he has ever done. Unfortunately, he played a sloppy shot and lost it.
Before Nathan Lyon joined the attack, the opener was playing with great fluidity. The off-spinner threw an arm ball at the stumps while positioned close to the wicket, and Rohit made the decision to sweep. The ball did not turn and continued straight ahead, trapping him directly in front for a 60-ball 43.
Given that India was on the prowl for leather and was pursuing 444 to secure their first WTC mace, his shot choice drew a lot of flak. A big knock from the captain would have strengthened their foothold on a big chase, even though the presence of Ajinkya Rahane and Virat Kohli offers hope.
Though Rohit has lost a promising start in a Test innings before, this isn’t the first instance. Despite all of his runs, it has, regrettably, unfortunately become a recurring aspect of his career over time.
Here is a review of three additional Tests where he wasted good starts
1. The 3rd Test against England in Southampton in 2014
With centuries in his first two innings at home against the West Indies in 2013, Rohit’s career in whites got off to a great start. He was benched for the opening two Tests in England in 2014 after struggling against the moving ball in South Africa and failing to make an impression there as well.
He took the place of Stuart Binny in the starting XI for the third Test at the Rose Bowl in Southampton because India decided to use an extra batter.
Walking in at 136/4 when Kohli’s wicket fell, Rohit and Rahane quickly put 74 runs together in the second session of Day 3, as the visitors chased down England’s massive 569/7 total.
He got his eye in and appeared to be ready for a big knock before throwing it away. At the stroke of tea, Rohit couldn’t help but step out to Moeen Ali, who was in mid-off, and he chipped a sitter straight down Stuart Broad’s throat.
He passed away for a promising 28 when it ought to have been much more. As England tied the series before winning it 3-1, India was defeated by a whopping 266 runs.
2. 2014’s Adelaide first test matchup with Australia
At the Adelaide Oval, Kohli made his debut as captain because MS Dhoni would be sidelined for the first of four Test matches in Australia. India’s batters responded in unison to try and achieve first innings parity as Australia declared on 517/7, but their bowlers took a beating as a result.
On a good batting surface, they got off to a good start thanks to Kohli’s 115 and half-centuries from Murali Vijay, Cheteshwar Pujara, and Rahane.
When batting at No. 6, Kohli, and another player who appeared to be reliable, Wriddhiman Saha, combined for 74 runs for the fifth wicket.
It was up to Rohit to continue the innings, but he left the game against the grain by chipping a Nathan Lyon delivery back to the bowler. As he left for position 43, it was a very mild conclusion to what might have been a significant knock.
India lost in heartbreaking fashion by 48 runs despite appearing to be in position to chase down 364 on the final day.
3. 3rd Test against England in Leeds in 2021
Rohit’s success in Tests as an opener was similar to his comeback in white-ball cricket. The Mumbai batter had established himself as an incredibly dependable option up top by the time India faced Leeds in the third Test in England in 2021 with a 1-0 lead.
The visitors were shocked by the outcome of the game because they were unable to stop James Anderson and Ollie Robinson from hooping the ball around. After India decided to bat first, the innings stalled out on the first day as wickets fell like ninepins.
The only batter who appeared comfortable in the middle, Rohit, had faced more than 100 deliveries and had dug in hard.
Unfortunately, it all fell apart when he mistimed a short one from Craig Overton into Robinson’s hands at midfield, bringing all of his hard work to an abrupt halt. India lost by an innings after being bowled out for a pitiful 78. They played better the second time around, but it was too late.
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